HANDGUN
AMMUNITION:SELF
DEFENSE

Ammunition manufactured in the United States is among the finest in the
world. For intended defensive uses, the gun owner will not go wrong in
selecting ammunition produced by the most widely recognized manufacturers.
These include CCI/Speer, Cor-Bon, Federal, Hornady, Remington, and Winchester.

Allow
no margin for error in protecting your life. Avoid potentially unreliable
ammunition that is hand loaded, re-loaded, or of dubious quality foreign manufacture when
choosing defensive rounds.

In a self defense
situation, you are seeking to apply superior force to
dissipate a life threatening encounter with a criminal aggressor.
This will
require use of a handgun ideally chambered for a round that possesses the
following characteristics:

As an absolute minimum, be capable of penetrating at least six to eight
inches of bodily tissue.

As a preferred minimum, be capable of penetrating at least ten to twelve
inches of bodily tissue.

As an absolute maximum, be capable of penetrating no more than fifteen inches of bodily tissue.

Consider
visiting the Armory munitions room "Handgun: Self Defense". Information found in the discussion
"Selection of Caliber" is pertinent to the evaluation of
"best" defensive ammunition, and will provide additional insight into
the discussion at hand. To access this material, either click on the link at the top of that page or scroll down through the text.

In
investigating the merits of various calibers and bullets for self defense, you
will find that a considerable range of opinion and personal preference
exist. This is to be expected, considering that the American gun community
embraces fellow firearm enthusiasts with extremely varied backgrounds, tastes,
insights, experiences and training.

As
a generality, it appears as though two distinct schools of thought exist:
cartridge performance preference based on real world shooting data ("one
shot stop" statistics) and cartridge performance preference based on bullet
penetration data derived from shooting into ballistic gelatin, which has the
characteristics of soft human tissue.

Law
enforcement agencies periodically participate in workshops intended to evaluate
performance of various calibers and brands of ammunition. Procedures
follow the FBI Wound Ballistic Testing Protocol, a series of tests designed to
evaluate bullet penetration, retained weight and expansion in settings that
simulate real world conditions. Shooting events include bare
ballistic gelatin, and gelatin protected by barriers such as heavy clothing,
steel, wallboard, plywood and auto glass.

Much
of the "penetration" information presented for various calibers in the
following summaries is based on data derived from the foregoing sources.
It is extremely generalized, however, because tests involve a considerable range
of ammunition brands and types as well as handgun makes and models.

Most
law
enforcement agencies have transitioned from revolvers to autoloaders as the duty
gun of choice. Modern autoloaders are safe and reliable, and offer the
desired attributes of high capacity and reloading speed. The calibers of
9mm, .40 S&W and .45ACP are preferred. The snubby revolver in .38
Special or .357 Magnum sometimes fills the niche of concealed backup gun.

It
is not the purpose of this forum to debate the merits and limitations of the
various data sources. You will likely find that valuable guidance is to be
obtained from each. In fact, conclusions derived from these disparate
methodologies often complement one another.

Hence,
it is not surprising that the "best" performers based on real world
"one shot stop" shootings are also the calibers that tend to meet the
preferred minimum penetration criteria established through empirical testing.

In
evaluating ammunition performance information, it is suggested by the Armory
that you not treat the "one shot stop" data as an absolute.
Rather, it may be more productive to compare the statistics for various calibers
based on their "relative" performance to one another.

From
the perspective of self defense, it is helpful to mentally
categorize calibers as "very poor", "poor", "fair", "good",
"very good", "better" and "best".

Realize
that such comparisons are both subjective as well as objective in nature, and
are quite likely the topic of considerable discussion and debate among handgun
aficionados.

Within
a chosen caliber, seek to use ammunition that rates well in real
world shootings. Even more importantly, make sure that it cycles reliably
if your
handgun is an autoloader.

The rule
of thumb is to shoot 200 rounds without a jam as the test of reliability.
If an autoloader won't dependably feed hollow points, switch to full metal jacket
bullets, also known as "ball" ammunition.

Remember
that even a poor or fair caliber could be a life saver if force is delivered
effectively by the intended victim to dissipate a criminal assault. When
comparatively weak calibers
are used for personal protection, proper multiple shot placement is exceedingly
important.

Don't
lose track of the "big picture". Don't miss the forest for all
those trees out there. What one is attempting to assess is the suitability of
various self defense rounds in the context of one's personal need, abilities and
life style. This includes factors such as recoil tolerance, firearm
familiarity, gun type and action, ease of carry, safety features and ability to
conceal.

Be
aware that some
of the following information is dated, derived from data in the public
domain current as of approximately late 1990's - early 2000's. You
may find that certain products may no longer be available. Recognize that
the information presented at the Armory serves as a comparative record for that
period, available in a free format to the public.

More
recent information certainly is available from various
sources. However, one will likely find that some updated
information may come with a cost: subscription web sites or print
media.

Technological
advances in the design and manufacture of firearms and ammunition have undoubtedly
occurred over the past decade. This is particularly true with regard to
bullets, with "new and improved" varieties continually being developed
and marketed by various manufacturers. Improvement typically relates to
even more effective or desirable properties of bullet expansion: the "next
generation" of hollow point handgun ammunition.

Cartridges
that represent both pioneering and state-of-the-art hollow point design efforts
by the six primary American ammunition manufacturers are summarized herein:

CCI/Speer
: "Gold Dot" JHP

Cor-Bon
: "Self Defense" JHP

Federal
: "Premium Personal Defense Hydra-Shok" JHP

Hornady
: "Critical Defense" JHP

:
"TAP FPD" JHP

: "XTP" JHP

Remington
: "HD Ultimate Home Defense" JHP

"Golden Saber" JHP

Winchester:
"Ranger" JHP

"Super-X Silvertip" JHP

"Supreme Elite Bonded PDX1" JHP

With the
exception of Federal "Hydra-Shok", Remington "Gold Saber",
Hornady "XTP" and Winchester "Silvertip" ammunition, most of the foregoing rounds
were not included in the data bases used to statistically determine "one shot
stopping success" in the following summaries. The newer cartridges
either hadn't been developed at the time or hadn't been introduced long enough
to generate sufficient data.

Bullets
come in a wide variety of shapes, metals, and multi-metal composites.
Bullet types commonly encountered in self-defense applications are summarized as
follows:

FMJ

"Full
Metal Jacket". The round-nosed bullet is enclosed on its top and sides in a
hard metal jacket, usually consisting of an alloy of copper or occasionally
mild steel. The base of the bullet is open, exposing a lead
core. The bullet design is not conducive to either expansion or
deformation. According to terms
of the Hague Convention of 1899, and subsequently the Geneva Convention, this is the only type of bullet permitted in
small arms during warfare. It is also referred to as "ball".

JHP

"Jacketed
Hollow Point". The bullet is constructed of a soft lead, or
proprietary alloy core, enclosed
in a hard metal "jacket". The top of the bullet has an opening in the
jacket, exposing a "hollow" cavity in the "point" or
nose of the core. Upon impact, the bullet is
forced to open up and expand. This generally results in less
tactical penetration than a non-expanding bullet in the same cartridge, but
greater tissue damage due to the larger diameter of the now expanded
bullet. Other proprietary bullet configurations similar to JHP may
simply be known as "Hollow Point".

LHP

Lead
Hollow Point. The bullet is similar to a JHP, but is constructed
completely of lead and has no jacket.

SJHP

Semi-Jacketed
Hollow Point. This bullet is similar to a JHP, but the jacket does
not completely cover the lead core. A small section of core at the
top of the bullet is left exposed. This older bullet design is still
common in the .38 Special, .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum calibers.

LRN

Lead
Round Nose

LW

Lead Wadcutter.
This revolver bullet has sharp shoulders and a flat nose. It is a
target round designed to punch clean holes in paper. A "semi-wadcutter"
is similar to a wadcutter, but exhibits sides with a more pronounced
taper.

In a perfect world,
the intended victim would be relying on a caliber larger than the .22 for self
defense. In such a perfect world, why would one need to defend themselves
in the first place? Consider the .22 to be an imperfect solution to a
real world necessity, or put differently "something is better than
nothing". The diminutive .22 makes sense with citizens reluctant to
pack or carry a larger caliber handgun. Some fine .22 caliber pocket and
target autoloaders
exist, and 6-, 8- and 10-shot .22 caliber revolvers are great handguns.
Use .22LR ammunition.

Because
ammunition is cheap, shooting is very affordable with a .22 caliber
handgun. Marksmanship is crucial with a .22 in a defensive situation, so
practice drawing your firearm and rapidly peppering objects from ten to
twenty-five feet away. Cans, melons, and discarded bowling pins make ideal
targets. Bowling pins used to be free, but now a nominal cost is usually
involved to obtain them.

The
.22 autoloader must be kept free of gunk, dust, and grit to function reliably.
Make sure to keep the firearm meticulously clean and properly lubricated.

Replace unused .22 ammunition in the magazine at least every six months or so
because it tends to misfire or hang fire when subjected to temperature and weather extremes over a period of time.
It is strongly recommended that you visit Handguns:
Self Defense to review safety issues surrounding potentially
dangerous hang fire rounds.

A
number of manufacturers make fine single action
revolvers that are capable of selectively shooting either .22LR or .22WMR
ammunition.
This is accomplished by means of interchangeable cylinders of different
lengths, each intended to accommodate either the .22LR or the
.22WMR. The barrel of the gun is suited to either
caliber since they are both .22.

Double
and single action revolvers are available in .22WMR and very high capacity
autoloaders exist in this caliber.

The
.25ACP cartridge was developed as an alternative to the .22LR for use in small autoloaders. The
.25ACP is a center fired cartridge. It provides a
degree of dependability not found in the .22LR, which is a rim fired
cartridge.

Which of these calibers,
.22LR versus .25ACP, should an
individual consider purchasing for "serious" use as a self defense
round? Neither. Consider the .32ACP to be the minimum acceptable
caliber.

The
"snubby", a snub nose 2-inch revolver, has a long history as a favorite
of the law enforcement community for concealment. It is also
extremely popular for CCW permit civilian carry.

Ammunition
labeled +P (for extra pressure) should be used only in revolvers
approved by the manufacturer for such use.

Accuracy
with a light weight snub nose revolver is extremely susceptible to the
uncomfortable recoil and muzzle blast produced by +P ammunition. The gun is much more controllable in rapid
fire with standard pressure rounds.

The
admonition concerning +P ammunition is again reiterated: restrict the use
of +P loads to revolvers certified for
+P use.

It
is common to practice with standard pressure loads and carry +P ammunition
when packing for self defense. Be aware that the recoil of a +P
round is severe, and can inhibit accurate repeat shots. If standard
pressure ammunition is used for personal protection, proper shot placement
and rapid delivery of subsequent hits is enhanced.

The 9mm is the
world's most popular pistol cartridge for both civilian and military use.

Ammunition
for the 9mm Luger is available in three pressure classes: standard pressure, high
pressure "+P", and ultra high pressure "+P+". High and
ultra high pressure rounds should be
used only in newer firearms manufactured to handle these loads.

In FMJ, with a one shot stopping
success of only 63%, the standard pressure 9mm Luger is not a superlative defensive round. Use ball
ammunition for practice and training. Use JHP for self defense if it cycles
reliably in your autoloader.

The
9mm NATO is the cartridge currently used by the
U.S. Armed Forces. It is 124 grains, FMJ.

The
specifications for the 9mm NATO round call for a pressure that is
approximately 10% higher than that of standard 9mm Luger ammunition
. The higher pressure produces increased velocity and energy, which
are conducive to reliable cycling in both pistols and carbines chambered
for the 9mm.

The
9mm NATO can be considered to be roughly the equivalent of a +P 9mm Luger,
and thus should be used only in modern firearms
designed for +P ammunition.

This
pistol cartridge is a relatively new design that attempts to emulate the performance of the powerful .357 Magnum revolver
round. Although an excellent cartridge on its own merits, it doesn't
quite attain that goal.

The .357 Magnum, in
125 grain JHP, is unquestionably the
most effective handgun cartridge in existence. Its proven ability to
produce one shot stops exceeds that of any other round, including more powerful
cartridges such as the .41 Magnum and .44 Magnum.

If there is any downside to using the .357 Magnum for
self defense,
it would relate to muzzle blast and recoil. Controllability
is extremely important in follow-up shot placement, and self defense requires
that shots be fired rapidly and accurately.

For
those uncomfortable with conventional .357 Magnum rounds,
there exist a variety of "reduced recoil" cartridges that are equally well suited
to self defense. Some "next generation" JHP
ammunition has been designed to produce lower recoil without sacrificing
the desirable properties of bullet expansion and penetration. Little is lost by
using "more
temperate" ammunition.

Note that a .357 Magnum revolver can shoot both .357
Magnum and .38
Special ammunition. A .38 Special revolver can only shoot .38 Special ammunition.

For those owners of a
.357 Magnum
revolver that is still equipped with factory wooden grips, consider installing
recoil-absorbing, ergonomic rubber grips. The
difference in control afforded by these grips is enormous, and greatly aids
rapid and accurate shooting.

For self defense,
avoid soft
points, semi-wadcutters, or JHP ammunition with heavier bullets like the 158
"grainers" and above. These types of .357 Magnum cartridges are better suited to target shooting and
hunting. The recoil of the heavier bullets is correspondingly severe,
possibly inhibiting follow up shots and accuracy when used to defend against aggression.

For practice, the all lead bullets are
acceptable. However, there are better
choices, as the shooter will quickly discover when it is time to laboriously
clean the lead fouling from the gun.

When selecting .357 Magnum
cartridges for self defense, an individual will be well served by choosing
JHP, 110 to 125 grains, made by any of the top six American ammunition manufacturers.

A
relatively recent development from the 1980's, the 10mm pistol cartridge hasn't
performed as well as its designers intended. It never attained the
tactical success, or popularity, achieved by 9mm, .40 S&W, or .45ACP JHP ammunition.

In
the heavy recoiling "full power" load, the 10mm is a hunting
cartridge that exhibits excessive penetration for self defense.

Now
considered a "classic", the Smith & Wesson model 29 revolver
chambered in .44 Magnum was the favorite of Clint Eastwood in his big screen
"Dirty" Harry Callahan detective roles. Even Clint has moved
on. His character in the must see movie "Gran Torino", a
crusty Korean War vet contending with multiculturalism, favors his .45ACP
Colt 1911A1 pistol.

Keep in mind that a gun chambered for .44 Magnum is also
capable to shooting the .44 Special. The reverse is not applicable.

Fierce
muzzle blast and excessive recoil characterize the .44 Magnum. Rounds
also tend to over penetrate. These qualities are not ideal for self
defense.

For self
defense, a good double action revolver is preferred to a single action cowboy or hunting gun.

Check
out "Selection of Caliber" for
additional insight into handgun caliber choices that are best suited for
personal protection and home defense.

In
summary, you would be wise to select a pistol caliber in the
"better" or "best" rankings and load it with JHP bullets.
Proven self defense pistol calibers include 9mm, .40 S&W and .45ACP.
As mentioned previously, these calibers are the overwhelming choice of those
in law enforcement. The best revolver round is the .357 Magnum. Should recoil tolerance be an issue,
investigate the "very good" revolver round, .38 Special. The
"good" .380ACP should be considered a minimum loading for a
pistol, unless you wish to pack the "fair" .32ACP in concealed
carry due to the small size of pocket pistols chambered for this caliber.

Other
calibers exist, and many are suited to self defense. For example, some
law enforcement agencies like .357 SIG. The .327 Magnum is a new
revolver round. Will 10mm take care of business? Sure. The
point, however, is that less popular ammunition calibers aren't superior to
more popular, ubiquitous calibers. Recall the school yard taunt:
"Anything you can do, I can do better. I can do anything better
than you". Well, that's the case with the proven, popular
calibers.

An
addition factor to consider when selecting a caliber for self defense is
that popular ammo is relatively easy to acquire. It is going to be on
the retailer's shelf nearly everywhere. Military calibers are perhaps
the most widely available. Obscure, less popular calibers are going to
be harder to find. Depending upon where you live, this may not necessarily be a
significant problem in good
times. After all, if local suppliers don't carry a particular
cartridge, there are always on-line vendors happy to ship. When
catastrophe strikes and hard times come, those with firearms chambered
for "unusual" calibers will be running out of ammunition quickly if they
haven't had the vision to stockpile.

Be
sure to check out the "next generation" JHP ammunition introduced
for civilian self defense and law enforcement use by the top domestic
manufacturers. In addition to further enhancing bullet expansion
properties over some "pioneering" JHP products, newer JHP
cartridges may offer additional benefits like reduced recoil or low flash (to
minimize night blindness). Again, make sure JHP ammunition cycles
reliably in your pistol. Otherwise, you have to go with FMJ (ball),
which doesn't provide as much stopping power as JHP within a given caliber
.